Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-05-28
.veu II wa, prettv work: used to

TO get me to spin their tine thread.
But "a was saying, Squire Bassett's
| folks had everything that was nice,
but that don't hinder trouble from
coming, and they had their share, for
out of four beautiful children, only
one son lived to grow up, and they
just worshiped him. Thomas. or Tom
| Bassett, Us he was called, was as nice
! a young man as there was in Chester,
and he was as handsome : picture,
with his black hair and eyes. de was
tall and road-shouldered and STOOD
square on his feet as man ought 70.
Squire Bassett and mis- wife had de-
cided that Nancy Holmes was lust the
| one for Tom to marry. She belonged
to the family and had money; SO ever
| since Fancy came to live with them,
| they had been trying to make match
| between them, and Nancy was willing
/ enough, but they all knew Tom s heart
was set on Ruth Davis. and had been
| ever since they were children together.
| But Ruth was a poor girl. Her father
was a shoemaker, and they lived in a
little house with only three rooms,
and Ruth had to 60 out spinning, and
| ii abe was as pretty as a pink, and as
good as she was pretty, they thought
she was no match for Squire Bassett's
son.
when the sleighride was talked OF
we all wondered which Tom would
take, Nancy or Ruth, but we soon
found out he was going with Nancy.
presume his folks made such a fuss
he couldn't help it. Ruth was going
with 10 Green who was as much in
love with her as Tom was. We al
ways called them the rivals.
There couldn't have been better
time for a sleighride than that after
noon we started for Morse's tavern.
There had not any snow fallen for
some time and the road was trodden
down as smooth and hard as floor.
There were twenty couples OF us. Tom
Bassett with his span OF handsome
black horses with Nancy tucked into
the sleigh beside him took the lead.
1--WE Just skinned over the snow and
Just as it began to grow dark We came
in sight OF Morse's tavern. 1t was q
low, rambling, old building, with q
broad piazza across the front. The
rudy glow of the fires shone cheerily
through the windows makingi it a pleas
ant sight after ride of ten miles.
I'VE had just time to take off our
wraps and get warm before the fire
that was swapping and caring up the
great old chimney when we were called
to supper. And such q supper. Folks
knew how to cook in those days.
By the time We had finished
supper they had got the hall
lighted and the musicians were
| tuning their violins. 1t wasn't much
OF hall, at least you would not think
so, and it was lighted with tallow can
dies and the music was only two vio-
Inns. but we had just as good time as
! the young folks do now with great
halls lighted with gas, and bands of
music.
I've danced contra dances and reels
till ten O'Clock, when it was time to go
home. had noticed all the evening
that Ruth did not take notice of Tom
Bassett. She seemed all taken mp with
10 Green. This vexed Tom, for usual
| ~ Ruth didn't seem to care for any
one but him. | saw him looking at
Ruth and 10 and his eyes fairly blazed.
while we girls were putting on our
| things the young men went for the
horses. Nancy, Ruth and I got ready
! first and stepped ont on to the piazza.
| The moon was shining as bright as
day.
"Jo is going to be first going home, "
| said Ruth, as she walked towards the
steps, and as she spoke saw 10 Green
| driving up to the door, but before he
got there Tom Bassett dashed past
HIM, drove upto the steps, and quick
er than | can tell you was out of the
sleigh, caught Ruth up, put her in his
sleigh and was off like a fash. 1t was
done so quickly we hardly realized it,
until he was out OF sight. Nancy was
the first to speak.
"'Well, said she. 'he has :un OF
with Ruth Davis. should think it
was nice way to treat me. When i
60 anywhere with Tom Bassett again
he will know it,
Nancy never had an opportunity
to go with him again. Instead of 60
ing to Chester Tom drove to Parson
Browns who lived about four miles
! from the tavern, and was married to
Ruth that night.
Ruth told me afterwards about it.
She said she couldn't help being mar
ried. Tom said he had seen 10 Green
going around with her as long as he
was going to, and drove right to the
minister's house. Hehad gone to bed,
but Tom soon had him up and had
the knot tel
81 must say the squire and his wife
behaved well. OF course they were
very much disappointed, but they
took Ruth right home to the big house,
and when / came away from Chester
they were all living together as happy
as could be. Nancy married 10 Green
very soon after Tom was married,
and went to Boston to live. There ]
have told you all about our sleigh
ride"
"lt was very nice story, the best
you ever told me. Tom Bassett was
quite a Young Lochinvar,'" said Hell
ell.
Mrs. Harris had never read Sir Wal
ter Scott's ballad OF "Lochinvar," &c
Helen repeated it to her, and by that
time the mlttens were finished, and
Helen was soon on her way home
thinking as she walked over the crisl
snow that the young men fifty year,
ago were more daring in love" thar
they are at the present time.
|